On September 17, in the Plenary Session of the Supreme Court, the former Chairman of the Department of Administrative Cases Valerijans Jonikans was elected the Chairman of the Department of Civil Cases.

 The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court Andris Gulans inviting the Plenary Session to vote for V. Jonikans, informed that the nomination was approved in the meeting of the management of the Supreme Court, and the support of the senators of the Department of Civil Cases was confirmed. V. Jonikans has worked in the field of civil law for long time, but for the last four years, since establishment of the Department of Administrative Cases, he led its work and majored in administrative matters. The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court said that such a good specialist and a good organizer who could change the organization of the Department’s work and - to a certain extent – reasoning, is at this moment necessary in the position of the Chairman of the Department of Civil Cases.

 The necessity of changes was also noted by the oldest senator of the Supreme Court Roberts Namatevs, he, as well, valued V. Jonikans as the most suitable manager. However, the senator of the Department of Administrative Cases Ilze Skultane called to vote neither for, nor against V. Jonikans. Having no doubt regarding suitability of V. Jonikans for any position and his capability to cope with most complicated tasks, the senator admitted that good specialists and decent people are needed everywhere, in the Department of Administrative Cases, as well. After the founder and manager of the department, and a professional in administrative cases leaves the department, the fate of the department is left unclear, and they do not see any other person in the position of the previous chairman.

 V. Jonikans himself admitted that he took the decision not quite at his own will, but upon request of the Court management and with the support of the senators of the Department of Civil Cases. His motivation to change the field of specialization is the interest in civil cases on what he had worked for a long period.

 The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court promised to deal with the issue of management of the Department of Administrative Cases in the nearest future, and there should be no problems, as the organization of work in this department is well established, and there are several candidatures suitable for the position of manager among the senators. A. Gulans expressed hope that V. Jonikans will manage to bring into the work of the Department of Civil Cases the stability, transparency of work organization and experience of motivating employees of the Department of Administrative Cases.

 The vacancy in the Department of Civil Cases of the Senate opened after the death of its long-term chairman Martins Dudelis on June 28, 2007. The term of office for Chairmen of the Senate Departments and Court Chambers is five years.

 From 1999 till 2003, Valerijans Jonikāns held the position of a judge in the Department of Civil Cases of the Supreme Court, afterwards the Plenary Session entrusted him formation of the new Department of Administrative Cases. V. Jonikans has worked also as an attorney-at-law, legal counsel, judge and court chairman in Bauska, Talsi and Daugavpils. Now he is entrusted management of the Department of Civil Cases of the Senate.

 

Information prepared by the Division of Communication of the Supreme Court

Author: Rasma Zvejniece, Manager of the Division of Communication of the Supreme Court

E-mail: rasma.zvejniece@at.gov.lv, telephone: 7020396, 28652211